Water collection tray arrangement

Abstract

Water collection tray arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising a water tray (10) with a water tray base (14) and a surrounding water tray wall (16), wherein at least one water drain (12) is arranged on the water tray base (14), wherein it has at least one water drain (12), a damming collar (20) raised from the bottom of the water bowl (14) and radially surrounding a water drain opening (26), which causes the water to back up, and the outer surface (21) of the damming collar (20) forms an angle α with the vertical, wherein the base surface (25) of the damming collar (20) arranged on the bottom of the water bowl (14) has a larger diameter than the top surface (23) of the damming collar (20).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a water collection tray arrangement for a motor vehicle.

[0002] In automotive engineering, water collection trays are particularly well-known as a component of a water management system. This system ensures the controlled drainage of water from the vehicle's exterior, thereby preventing water from entering the vehicle's interior. Convertibles, in particular, often feature such water management systems, as a movable soft top must be sealed against rigid body components.To enable a defined drainage of water from the vehicle roof, for example a water collection tray, not visible from the outside and adjacent to an edge gap between a convertible top and a rigid body component, is arranged in the rear area of ​​the vehicle, so that the water flowing from the vehicle roof flows over the edge gap into the water collection tray, is collected in the water collection tray and is directed out of the vehicle body at a defined point and drains away.

[0003] WO 2008 / 138366 A1, for example, discloses a convertible vehicle with a water collection tray arrangement. The water collection tray arrangement comprises a water collection tray located in a convertible top compartment at the rear of the vehicle and extending across almost the entire width of the vehicle. The water collection tray is funnel-shaped at its open end and directed towards a gap between the convertible top compartment lid and the convertible top, so that water entering the compartment through this gap flows into the water collection tray. At the opposite end, the water collection tray has a drain outlet to which a drain hose can be connected to direct the water out of the vehicle body at a defined point.

[0004] A water collection tray with a water drain is known from DE 10 2005 011 479 A1.

[0005] From DE 297 11 482 U1 a plastic closure cover for closing a body opening is known.

[0006] Further water collection tray arrangements with one water drain are known from US 9 435 453 B1, US 2011 0 017 116 A1, DE 10 2012 020 861 A1 and US 5 509 712 A.

[0007] A disadvantage of such a water collection tray arrangement is that dirt particles also enter the water collection tray along with the water and can clog the water drain or the drain hose connected to the water drain nozzle, eventually causing the water collection tray to overflow.

[0008] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a water collection tray that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0009] This problem is solved by a water collection tray arrangement with the features of the main claim.

[0010] The water collection tray arrangement includes a water collection tray, which is made of plastic, for example, and is typically located in the front or rear of a motor vehicle. The water collection tray has a base and surrounding walls. A drain with a drainage opening is located at the base of the tray, through which the collected water flows out.

[0011] According to the invention, the water drain has a backwater collar surrounding the drain opening, which extends upwards from the bottom of the water tray and causes the water to back up in the water collection tray. This backwater calms the water flow, allowing the dirt particles carried in the water to settle. The water is backed up until the water level exceeds the height of the backwater collar and the water flows out through the drain opening. The height and shape of the backwater collar depend primarily on the geometry of the water collection tray and the amount of water to be backed up.

[0012] In this way, a water collection tray arrangement can be provided that prevents dirt particles from entering the water drain in a simple and cost-effective manner and prevents the water drain opening from becoming clogged.

[0013] The outer surface of the backwater collar of the water collection tray arrangement is frustoconical, with the diameter of the base of the backwater collar being larger than the diameter of the top surface, so that the outer surface of the backwater collar forms an angle α > 50° with the vertical. This frustoconical shape allows the water flowing into the water collection tray to be retained without causing new turbulence upon overflow due to abrupt deceleration of the water, thus preventing the resuspension of dirt particles already deposited at the bottom of the water tray.

[0014] Preferably, the backwater collar is formed by a separate component, with the water drainage opening being formed by this separate component. The separate component has a frustoconical section and an adjoining cylindrical section. The base of the frustoconical section rests against the bottom of the water bowl. The cylindrical section adjoins the base of the frustoconical section and extends through the bottom of the water bowl. In this way, the separate component is supported radially and at least in one axial direction. Alternatively, the separate component can have only a frustoconical section and, for example, be bonded to the bottom of the water bowl.

[0015] Preferably, a circumferential sealing element is arranged between the separate component and the bottom of the water tray, thereby sealing the gap between the bottom of the water tray and the separate component. The sealing element can, for example, be a sealing ring arranged in an annular groove formed on a circumferential surface of the separate component or the water tray. Alternatively, the separate component can be connected to the bottom of the water tray via an adhesive bond, whereby the gap between the separate component and the bottom of the water tray is sealed by the adhesive bond.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the damming collar and the water bowl base are formed in one piece, wherein the damming collar is already manufactured in the manufacturing process of the water collection bowl, thereby reducing the manufacturing and assembly effort.

[0017] Preferably, the bottom of the water bowl has a depression that completely surrounds the water drain opening, with the inner wall of the depression alone forming the continuous, annular backflow collar. The depression can, for example, be designed as a ring-shaped depression, with the inner wall of the depression forming an angle with the horizontal greater than 45°.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, a drain hose is provided which is connected to the water drain. This allows the water to be directed out of the vehicle body at a defined point.

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a sectional view of a water collection bowl arrangement with a first embodiment of a collar, Fig. 2 a sectional view of a section of a water collection bowl arrangement with a second version of a collar, Fig. 3 a sectional view of a section of a non-inventive water collection tray arrangement with a third embodiment of a collar that does not fall within the scope of protection of main claim 1, Fig. 4 a sectional view of a section of the water collection bowl arrangement with a fourth version of a collar, and Fig. 5 a sectional view of the water collection tray arrangement which does not fall within the scope of protection of claim 1, with a fifth embodiment of a collar.

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a water collection tray arrangement 2 with a water collection tray 10, which consists of a water tray base 14 and a water collection tray wall 16, which is a side wall. The water tray base 14 has a water drain 12 through which the water can flow out of the water collection tray 10. This design of the water collection tray 10 is suitable for all in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 identical.

[0021] The water drain 12 has a water drain opening 26 and, according to the invention, a backflow collar 20 surrounding the water drain opening 26 and rising from the bottom of the water tray 14. The design of the backflow collar 20 depends on the geometry of the water collection tray 10, the inflowing amount of water, and the expected inflowing flow velocity of the water. The position of the backflow collar 20 in the water collection tray 10, the height h1 of the backflow collar 20 above the bottom of the water tray 14, and an angle α can be varied, wherein the angle α is formed between an outer surface 21 of the backflow collar 20 and a vertical. The outer surface 21 extends between the base surface 25 and a top surface 23 of the backflow collar 20. The angle α is 25° in this case.

[0022] The one in Fig. The depicted damming collar 20 is formed by a separate component 30, which has a frustoconical section 32 and a cylindrical section 34. The frustoconical section 32 forms the damming collar 20 and rests with its base 36 against the bottom of the water bowl 14. The base 36 has a circumferential annular groove 39 in which an annular sealing element 38 is arranged, the sealing element 38 sealing the gap formed between the separate component 30 and the bottom of the water bowl 14. Alternatively, the annular groove and the sealing element can be formed or arranged on the bottom of the water bowl 14.

[0023] The cylindrical section 34 connects to the base 36 of the frustoconical section 32 and projects through the bottom of the water bowl 14 and downwards out of the bottom of the water bowl 14. The free end of the cylindrical section 34 opens into a drain hose 22, which is attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical section 34.

[0024] The water collection tray arrangement 2 could, for example, be located in the rear of a motor vehicle, with water flowing down from the vehicle roof into the water collection tray arrangement 2 and from there directed out of the vehicle body. The water flowing into the water collection tray 10 carries dirt particles 24 into the water collection tray 10. To prevent the water drain 12 or the connected drain hose 22 from becoming clogged by the dirt particles 24, the water is held back by the backflow preventer 20 in the water collection tray 10. This slows the water flow and causes the dirt particles 24 to settle. The dirt particles 24 then settle at the bottom of the water collection tray 14 and can be removed from the water collection tray 10, for example, during maintenance of the water collection tray arrangement 2.The water is dammed up until the water level h2 reaches the height h1 of the damming collar 20 and the dirt particle-free water can drain through the water outlet opening 26.

[0025] Fig. Figure 2 shows a section of a water collection tray arrangement 2 with a second embodiment of the backwater collar 20. The backwater collar 20 is integral with the water tray base 14 and is frustoconical in shape. At the end vertically opposite the backwater collar 20, the water tray base 14 has a cylindrical section 42 to which the drain hose 22 is connected to the water outlet 12.

[0026] Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a section of a water collection tray arrangement 2 with a third and fourth embodiment of the backflow collar 20'. In this arrangement, the drain hose 22 forms the backflow collar 20'. The drain hose 22 extends upwards beyond the bottom of the water tray 14, thus forming the backflow collar 20'. In the third embodiment, the bottom of the water tray 14 has a circumferential annular groove 60 in which an annular sealing element 62 is seated, sealing the gap between the bottom of the water tray 14 and the outer circumferential surface of the drain hose 22. In the fourth embodiment, the drain hose 22 has an integrally molded sealing lip 64 that extends radially outwards from the outer surface of the backflow collar 20' and bears against the bottom of the water tray 14 with its outer circumferential edge. In this way, the gap between the bottom of the water tray 14 and the drain hose 22 is sealed.

[0027] Fig. Figure 5 shows a water collection tray arrangement 2 with a fifth embodiment of the backwater collar 20''. The water tray base 14 has a depression 50, which has an inner wall 52 and a depression base 54. The depression 50 can be ring-shaped and extend over 360° or be formed only in sections. The backwater collar 20'' is formed by the inner wall 52, so that the sedimented dirt particles 24 settle at the bottom depression. As shown in the embodiment Fig. 2, the bottom of the water bowl 14 has the cylindrical section 42 to which the drain hose 22 is attached.

[0028] Other design embodiments besides those described are also possible and fall within the scope of protection of the main claim. For example, the shape of the collar 20, the shape of the water collection tray 10, or the sealing elements 38, 62 may be designed differently.

Claims

[1] Water collection tray arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising a water tray (10) with a water tray base (14) and a surrounding water tray wall (16), wherein at least one water drain (12) is arranged on the water tray base (14), wherein it has at least one water drain (12), a damming collar (20) raised from the bottom of the water bowl (14) and radially surrounding a water drain opening (26), which causes the water to back up, and the outer surface (21) of the damming collar (20) forms an angle α with the vertical, wherein the base surface (25) of the damming collar (20) arranged on the bottom of the water bowl (14) has a larger diameter than the top surface (23) of the damming collar (20). [2] Water collection tray arrangement (2) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the dust collar (20) is formed by a separate component (30). [3] Water collection tray arrangement (2) according to claim 2, characterized by, that a circumferential sealing element (38) is arranged between the separate component (30) and the water bowl base (14). [4] Water collection tray arrangement (2) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the damming collar (20) and the water bowl base (14) are made in one piece. [5] Water collection tray arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a drain hose (22) is provided into which the water drain (12) empties.

Images